Getting Started with Advising

We are here to guide you through your first year.

College can be both exciting and scary. We are here to help! Your dedicated academic counselor helps you choose your major, select your classes and navigate your first year of college.

How To Select Classes

During your first year, your academic counselor will help you select the classes that match your academic goals and degree requirements. Together you will discuss:

Your degree plan

Course sequencing

Class selection

Course registration

For more information on the advising and registration process please see our FAQ's on Advising and Registration. You can also see a registration and Degree Work tutorials to assist you with the process.

How Your Academic Counselor Can Help You

You have a dedicated academic counselor to guide you through your first year.

Your academic counselor begins work with you before you arrive on campus. You can expect your academic counselor to:

Call you during the summer to get to know you better

Ask about your particular interests and goals

Meet with you during your orientation session to help you register for classes

Meet regularly during your first year to help you navigate your degree and college life

Create a personalized academic success plan to help you reach your goals

At the end of your first year, you will begin work with a dedicated faculty advisor in your major. This faculty advisor will guide you the rest of the way to graduation.

How to Navigate Your First Year

Here are just a few things you can expect from your first year:

Most students take 4 or 5 classes.

A typical schedule consists of writing, math, freshman studies, a course in the major and other general requirements like art, speech, and science.

You may change your major, and that is okay. Your academic counselor can help you with this.

Good time managment is important. Professors expect you to work 2 hours for every 1 hour in class.

It's okay to ask for help. Every first year student can consult their academic counselor at any time with questions, concerns, challenges or triumphs.